One of the main motivations behind Clash’s regular vinyl review column, Just Played, is ensuring that readers get value for money when purchasing an often expensive physical format. As costs rise in all aspects of life, we thought it was time to present our guide to building a vinyl collection in the most economical fashion possible. While the quickest answer to this would likely be ‘buy second hand’, let’s take a more detailed view and expose ways of shaving off a few quid here and there for both new releases and those that have already had some time on somebody else’s turntable.
Where can I buy cheap vinyl?
Price Watch:
The best bang for buck approach is browsing for bargains and there are several places that will make this easier for you. The Twitter account@CheapIndieVinylis an excellent platform for independent record shops to flag up their sales. While it doesn’t catch everything – Tom, who runs it, does it simply as a fan of record shops – it’s not far from comprehensive and those that follow are often replying appreciatively with evidence of their purchases.@VinylOffersand@CheapVinylUKoffer a similar service for those happy to purchase from Amazon, identifying individual titles when their prices crash. On that note, it’s worth knowing that Amazon will always flag up any price changes in your basket since your last visit. By filling yours up with items you’re after, you can keep an eye on fluctuations with minimal effort. That said, you won’t get the warm glow of supporting an independent retailer via this method.
Those more personal experiences are always worth exploring. Some shops have loyalty schemes, with stamps for each purchase, and others will offer slight discounts for bulk purchases. All of this hinges on you getting to know your nearest indie and this is also a way of avoiding rising postage costs. Almost every new album is announced with an online pre-order link these days, but call in or send a message to your local record shop and they’ll be only too happy to order the same item for you.
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How can I cut down on delivery costs?
When it comes to online ordering, it’s worth knowing which stores offer free shipping over a certain threshold. While you need to be careful not to slip into the world of false economy where you add an extra record you don’t really want just to get to the minimum free delivery amount, this can be an effective way of shaving at least five quid off your purchases.Piccadilly,Sister RayandWax & Beansall offer complimentary shipping over £75, whileDriftoffer it at £85 andRough Tradeat £70. Legendary mail order good eggsNorman Recordswill cover costs for orders over £60 (as well as letting you gradually build your order over time) and Scottish hotshotsAssaicome down to £50 for their offer. When it comes to new vinyl purchases, every little saving makes a difference.
Can I build price comparisons?
Having mentioned a number of stores, don’t forget to do your research for the records too. Each shop has its own approach to profit margins and you’ll notice discrepancies between different retailers across many items. Furthermore, ensure that you’re getting the best edition or pressing by considering public comments on sites such asDiscogs(also useful for cataloguing your collection and buying second hand delights) and forums such as the one run by mastering engineer Steve Hoffman. Always remember that plenty will need to be taken with a pinch of salt, but there’s information readily available to help you sift out poor choices. We can recommend a certain review column too, on that note!
FO-No
Exclusivity is one of the great threats to your bank balance. Whether it’s limited Record Store Day titles or special variant editions on a different colour or with an alternative sleeve, the temptation to purchase rapidly is an increasing aspect of vinyl collecting. Often, coloured variants will cost a few quid more than the standard edition and versions crying out about their limited nature can be as much as five pounds more for bits of printed matter, flexi discs or obi-strips. While these trinkets can be lovely in the short term, they add little to the experience of the main event: the album. If you’re looking to trim your spending, avoiding FOMO purchases would be a good start.
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Where is the best place to buy second hand vinyl?
Online Strategy:
Many of you will be familiar with the variable pleasures ofeBayand the aforementionedDiscogs. Both have removed the thrill of the chase and initiated direct connections between those who want something and those who are happy to be shot of it. However, the twin minefields of pricing and grading need careful navigation. The first is easier to address, as there is often a gulf between what something is offered at and what somebody will actually pay for it. Many collectors have had heart-sinking moments when they first see the lowest current price for what the vinyl community generally refer to as a ‘grail’. However, a quick glance at the ‘Last Sold’ statistics will be instructive. For Discogs, this will show the details of the last dozen or so sales and allow you to investigate the condition of those rehoused copies and explore any meaningful trends in value.
For titles that are especially obscure, expect people to be chancing their arm with very high prices but be sure, as with watched items on eBay, to establish a Discogs Wantlist. This will provide you with a daily email highlighting current availability, but the more keen might do well to glance at their Wantlist tab on the main site several times a day so as to spot new uploads before everyone gets the automated update. Don’t expect miracles, but the odd (relative) bargain will slip through. As a general rule, however, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. A recent scam involved hackers taking control of accounts, setting a location so that they were blocked from taking payments and then requesting direct bank transfers for highly sought after items at temptingly low prices.
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Condition:
Grading of records is where things get really tricky. Discogs at least requires users to conform to the Goldmine Standard, which has definitions for Mint, Near Mint, and so on down to Poor and Fair. For eBay listings, you can often find yourself at the mercy of the idiosyncrasies of the seller’s perception of quality. Good can mean everything from NM to not broken in half. You can normally get a gauge from the phrasing (and grammar) of the description, as well as any accompanying photos. However, the more militant approach of Discogs is not free from problems either. Some sellers only grade visually and others play-test to give more detail about what you can expect. Some sellers clearly live in quite dark houses, while others hold their items under bright lights before labelling their condition.
As a general rule, use feedback as your friend. Look for phrases like ‘conservatively graded’ or ‘exactly as described’ as evidence of a dependable seller and, while you’re browsing those, also keep an eye out for comments on packaging. It’s disproportionately irritating to stake out a bargain only for it to arrive with fresh seam splits from bouncing around in a flimsy mailer en route. We’ll let you decide what your tolerance is for surface noise, but anything lower than VG+ is a bit of a risk if you want decent playback.
Social Media tip-offs:
Plenty of second hand record shops post updates on their social media channels, offering photographs and flick-throughs of newly arrived stock to whet the appetites of potential customers. Be sure to follow such accounts to help in building a vinyl collection, both for those local to you and those who offer reliable mail order. One of the best examples Clash has encountered recently is Joel at Brighter Day Vinyl’s Thursday Night Flick Throughs. Find him on Twitter, via @Brighterdayvnl, and ask to join his WhatsApp group if you’d like videos of vinyl treasures pointed in your direction every week. These innovative ways of making sales during the pandemic have become customary over time.
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Can you buy decent vinyl records in charity shops?
Despite all of this, there’s nothing quite like flicking through a box of old records and the accompanying tentative adrenaline rush primed for a good find. Charity shops vary wildly and some have volunteers who know all about grading and Discogs-style pricing. Others are less meticulous, but expect to wade through a lot of James Last records and problematic albums by artists whose past has caught up with them to locate the good stuff. Car boot sales are similarly unpredictable, but a quick search of social media will reveal some of the remarkable hauls people have found tucked beneath a trestle table in a dewy field early one Sunday. From people thinning out collections to those selling relatives’ effects, expect to find all sorts. Smoke, water damage and pet hair are just a few of the issues to negotiate, but you get what you pay for and a keen eye can normally find gold. Good chance for a bit of haggling too.
Relationships matter, whether via flick throughs, negotiations in a field or simply being a recognisable face in a local shop. Once staff know you and what you like, don’t be surprised when certain titles are whipped out and proffered to you with a knowing look. Trusting the seller is key and your instincts become finely tuned pretty quickly.
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Keep ‘em clean:
Finally, a cleaning regime is a standard requirement for second hand purchases, as well as often proving useful for new items too. Carbon-fibre brushes can do a solid job of dispatching surface detritus and various types of cleaning fluid are offered in record shops up and down the land. The latter can make some difference, but a prolonged clean is your best bet for noticeable difference. Plenty of collectors advocate for the Spin Clean unit which clocks in at around £80, allowing you to give the record a proper bath. While this may seem contrary to the notion of saving money, a one-off investment could well turn many budget purchases into quality bargains with a bit hard work. There are more expensive options that we’ve covered here before, but that’s for another time.
Ultimately, building a vinyl collection should be enjoyable. Being a completist in this day and age is only for those with deep pockets. Enjoy the digging, trust your gut and see what catches your eye. To keep costs down, avoid being lured by notions of scarcity and ephemera. Stay alert for sales, identify trusted sellers for second hand stock and shave off shipping whenever you can.
For regular information about the quality of modern pressings, be sure to read our monthly vinyl review column, Just Played.
Words:Gareth James(Access plenty of vinyl info and turntable shots by following@JustPlayedon Twitter)
